Oil separator



j c. POOL.

L S f RATOR.

APPL oN P1 I PEB.18,1920.

Patented June 6, 1922.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

(gn/venian;

sTTEs PATENT OFFICE.

J' CORBLEY POOL, OF SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA.

0114' SEPARATOB.

. Application filed February 18, 1920.

. vention much oil has been lost through the lack of proper apparatus for cheaply and quickly separating the same therefrom. `In

lsome sections of the country considerable hydrocarbon oil is contained in rock of the shale variety and also in other types of rock and heavy sand. Heretofore it has been found that although the possible yield of such oil might be considerable the available apparatus has either been too expensive to operate or the process too slow in accomplishing the desired results.- The present invention is designed to overcome these de- -fciencies in prior apparatuses by subjecting the oil bearing rock to suicient heat to render the oil volatile and then trapping the volatile oil or vapor and condensing the same. Furthermore the invention contemplates utilizing heat usually lost both from the furnace and the cooling rock which has been relieved of its oil to pre-heat the oil bearing rock before it enters into the area heated by the furnace, thus materially decreasing the cost of obtaining the oil and eX editing the operation of the process.

till further objects of the invention are; the provision of means to facilitate delivering and carrying away the rock before and after treatment; to effect the creation of suction or a partial vacuum for expediting the carrying olf of vapor or volatile oil; and

' to improve upon the heating apparatus by utilizing either gas or oil mixed with air for distilling the oils from the rock.

For the purpose' of illustrating this invention, there is shown in the accompanying drawings o ne form thereof which `is at present preferred, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities'of which the invention consists can be variously Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, A1922.

serial No. 359,506.

arranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described. 4

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the apparatus.

Figure 2 is a vertical section on line 242 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 1. l

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 4--4 of Figure 1.

Like characters of reference indicate like or similar parts throughout the several viewsl of the drawings, in which The frame or housingis designed to carry a plurallty of separate and distinct distilling apparatuses as illustrated in Figures 2, 3

and 4, and comprises outer Walls 1 `and spaced inner walls 2 forming a central compartment A. The space between the inner walls 2 and outer walls 1 is divided into substantially cylindrical chambers B by partitioning walls 3 and the central compartment is roofed-over as at 4 and provided with a central flat portion 5 upon which tracks are laid to receive stone cars, one of which is illustrated and designated C. -The chambers B are also roofedv over as at 6, and the said .roof portion is provided with a central substantially V-shaped depression constituting a. bin for storing rock dumped from the cars C. As shown in Figure 1, the V-shaped depressions are each provided with openings communicating with each of the several cylindrical chambers B for receiving the ends oftubes D one of which is contained in each of the chambers B and extends substantially the entire length thereof for receiving stone. The tubes constitute stills, but the details thereof will be referred to as the description proceeds. At the base of the frame and between each of the partitions 3 and extendingv within the chambers B to a point adjacent'l the walls 2 are centrallydepressed block members 7 upon each of which is supported.

endless belts 8 carried by rollers 9 and eX- tending beneath the lower terminals of the tubes D. The walls 1 are cut away as at 10 to gain access to the endless belts, as illustrated, and also to communicate with the interior of the compartments.

At a point midway the top and bottom of the outer walls 1 they are enlarged as at 11 and have formed therein passages 12 communicating with the upper and lower portions of each of the chambers B and constituting tlues or by-passes, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. Furthermore a pluralityV of chimneys 13 are provided, each of which communicate with the up er portion of one of the chambers B.

s heretofore set forth the tubes D extend from the V-shaped depressions in the roof .6 of the chambers to a point ad'acent the endless belts 8, and they are o less diameter than the diameter of the chambers B and are supported intermediate their extremities by pairs of transverse partitions .14, each pair of which extends from the walls 1 thereto from points below the upper terminations of the passages 12 and above their lower terminations thus dividing the chambers B into upper, intermediate and lower compartments X, Y and Z respectively; the lowermost compartments Z, of which communicate with the uppermost compartments X through the passages or iiues 12. Arranged between the lower partitions 14 are fuel burners 15 comprising gas and air inlet pipes 16 and 17 respectively delivering a mixture of the two to burners 18 extending through the upper of the pair of partitions '14 and arranged in a circle `(see Figure 4) to direct their fiames against the portion of the tubes contained in the compartments Yi which will hereinafter be termed the heating chambers. i y

Arranged in the tubes between both the upper and lower partitions 14 are valves 19 which when open lie flush with the walls of the tubes and are operated bysuitable levers or mechanism (not shown). The purpose vof these valves is to divide the tubes D into upper, intermediate, and lower portions designated Xa, Y'and Za for receiving rock durin its different stages of treatment. Specifically the rock is originally received in the portions Xaof the tubes where it is warmed, it is then delivered-to portions Y by opening upper valves 19 where it is heated andthe oils distilled or vaporized, whereupon the lower valves 19 are opened and it passes to the portions Za where it is cooled preparatory 'to removing it by operation of the endless chains 8. Attention is here called to the fact that the heat' generated by the cooling rock orresidue in portions Za passes from compartments Z of the chambers to the compartments X where it serves to pre-heat the portions Xa of the tubs containing the 'newly received rock awaiting treatment, it' being understood, of course, that the passage of rock down the tubes from portion to portion is a continuous operation.

4In order to permit heat to pass from the compartment Y to the compartments X of the chambers, openings 20 are provided which communicate with the flues 12 so that all surplus heat from both compartments Y and Z passes to compartments X for preheating the rock.

Arranged in the central compartment A are a plurality of conduits 21, each pair of which extend to a point adjacent the base thereof where they are connected with service pipes 22, beneath and communicating with which are suction fans 23 for creating a partial vacuum in the conduits 21. Branching from the conduits 21 are a plurality of equally spaced apart downwardly inclined pipes 24 communicating with the portions Y of the tubes for drawing oii' the vapors arising'from the oil bearing rock as it is acted upon by the heat. Furthermore, another set of branch pipes 25 communicate with the portions Za as the rocks emanate vapors even while they are cooling. Consetuently it will be seen that as the rock is su jected to the-heat generated in compartments Y, the hydrocarbons will become volatile or will vaporize and be drawn off through the pipes 25 to the conduits 21 and from thence to the service or drain pipes 22. As it is found desirable to create a partial vacuum in the pipes 21 to expedite the delivery of the volatile hydrocarbon, the suction pumps are provided although they may be dispensed with if the still operates effectively without them. In order to prevent the pipes 24 and 25 from becoming corroded by the heat in compartments Y they are enclosed insleeves 26 which effectively shield them from the flames and intense heat from the burners 18. 1

In operation the oil bearing rock is de- 'and are transferred to a suitable condenser,

(not shown), through the conduits 21 and service or drain pipes 22. When the hydro-l carbons are separated from the rock residue in portions Ya the lower valves 19 are opened and the rock falls to portions Za where it is permitted to remain until cool while any vapors given off are drawn off through pipes 25. The portion Y is again filled as well as the portions Xa and the loperation is repeated, it being understood how'ever that the cooled rock is first carried away by the endless belts 8. The heat emanating from the cooling rock in ortion Z is delivered to the compartment through the iiue or passage 12, as is also the excess heat from compartmentY (the heating compartment), 4so that all excess heat which mismo the process effects a great saving in labor,

and time.

l? rom the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it is thought that a clear and comprehensive understanding of the construction, op-

eration, and advantages of the invention may be had, but while l have shown and descrlbed'the device as embodying a specific structure, l desire it to be understood that such variations may be made in the said structure, as do not depart from the spirit and Scope of the invention as claimed.

l claim:

1. An apparatus for separating oil from rock comprising a housing, partitions in the housing forming a central compartment, partitions in the housing forming chambers, a roofing over the ,central compartment and chambers constituting a support for receiving and storing rock, tubes for receiving rock carried in the chambers and spaced from the Walls thereof, valves dividing said tubes into receiving, distilling and cooling portions or chambers, means or heating the distilling portions, partitions in the chambers dividing the same into upper, intermediate and lower compartments, said housing provided with passages connecting the chambers for delivering heat from the heated and cooling ortions of the tubes to the receiving port1ons whereby to preheat the rock, and means carried in the central compartments and extending into the tubes for drawing off the volatile oils and vapors.

2. An apparatus for separating oil from rock, comprising parallel sets 'of vertically disposed tubes, means dividing said tu es into receiving, distilling, and cooling sections, means for heating the distilling sections of said tubes, means for conveying heat radiated from the distilling and cooling sections to the receiving sections of said tubes, means common to the sets of said tubes for feeding rock thereto, means arranged between the sets of tubes for drawing off the volatile oils or vapors from the distilling sections of said tubes,

and means for discharging the residue from the bottom of the cooling sections of said tubes.

3. An apparatus for separating oil from rock, comprising a housing formed to provide a plurality of compartments arranged in sets one parallel to the other, ia tube disposed vertically of each of said compartments, means dividing. each tube into receiving, distilling and cooling sections, means for heating the distilling sections of each tube, means for conveying heat radiated lfrom the distilling and cooling sections of each tube to the receiving sections thereof, means for feeding rock to veach of said tubes, means arranged between oppositely disposed tubes for drawing ofi" the volatile oils or vapors from the distilling sections of the same, and means for discharging the residue from the rbottom of the cooling sections of said tubes.

4. An apparatus for separating oil from rock,'comprising a housing formed to provide a plurality of outer com artments arranged in sets one parallel to t ie other, and having a center compartment extending medially between each set of said first mentioned compartments, a tube disposed vertically of each of said outer compartments means dividing each tube into receiving, distilling and cooling sections, means for heating the distilling sections of each t'ube, means for conveying heat radiated from the distilling and cooling sections of each tube to the receiving sections thereof, means for feeding rock to each of said tubes, means within the center compartment of said housing for drawing olf the .volatile oils or vapors from Sii the distilling sections of said tubes, and

means for discharing the residue from the bottom of the cooling sections of said tubes.

5. An apparatus for separating oil from rock, comprising a housing formed of a plurality of compartments divided into upper, intermediate and lower sections, a tube disposed vertically within each of the compartments of said housing, means dividing 'each tube into receiving, distilling and cooling sections corresponding respectively to the upper, intermediate and lower sections of the compartment occupied by the same, means for conveying heat radiated from the distilling and cooling sections of each tube to the receiving sections thereof, means for feeding rock to each of said tubes, means arranged' between oppositely disposed tubes for drawing off of the volatile 011s or vapors from the distilling sections of the same, and means for discharging the residue from the bottom of the cooling sections of said tubes.

In testimony whereof, l ax my signature hereto.

J CORBLEY POOL.

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